Abstract: A navigation apparatus acquires geographic information from a server apparatus. When the navigation apparatus does not store any geographic information that provides a continuous route from the starting point to a destination point, it transmits data of the starting point and destination point to the server apparatus to acquire therefrom geographic information that provides a continuous route from the starting point to the destination point. This efficient acquisition of geographic information realizes reduction of communication time and communication costs.

Abstract: An SCP (System Control Processor) 7 is provided in addition to a CPU 1 responsible for control of circuits in a computer. Upon receiving a Main ON signal (low level) indicative of the CPU 1 being inactive, the SCP 7 responds to a switch operation on a control panel 6 to supply a CD-ROM drive 2 with a command corresponding to the switch operation on said control panel 6 independently of the CPU 1 as well as to feed a high-level CD-POWER-ON signal to a power supply circuit 8 through an OR circuit 9. The power supply circuit 8 selectively supplies the CD-ROM drive 2 and an Audio amplifier 10 with driving power upon receiving the high-level signal.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus includes notification means for notifying an advance direction at a branching point in a route guiding, storage means for storing a plurality of moving methods and notification methods corresponding to the respective moving methods, input means for selecting one of the plurality of moving methods stored in the storage means, and control means for causing the notification means to perform notification by the notification method corresponding to the moving method selected by the input means. Thus, it is possible to easily set a route guiding such as a distance to the branching point where guiding is started for each of the moving methods and a sound volume.

Abstract: In a telephone having a presence function, it is possible to easily register a presence state. The telephone includes: presence detection means for detecting a presence state of a user; a presence state storage unit for storing the presence state detected by the presence detection means; and control means having a presence modification function for modifying the presence information stored in the presence state storage unit according to the user presence state detected by the presence detection means. When the presence detection means has detected a presence of a user, the control means modifies the presence information stored in the presence state storage unit to presence information indicating a presence. When the presence detection means has detected an absence of the user, the control means modifies the presence information stored in the presence state storage unit to presence information indicating an absence.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel where a liquid crystal is held between a pair of substrates is characterized by marking a specified figure on one substrate, detecting the specified figure on the one substrate, applying a sealing material according to a predetermined pattern and providing a liquid crystal encapsulation opening in the vicinity of the marking, joining another substrate paired with the one substrate thereto, cutting the joined substrates to obtain a pair of substrates, injecting a liquid crystal material through the liquid crystal encapsulation openings of the pair of substrates thus obtained, and closing the liquid crystal encapsulation openings. According to the invention, a process for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel in which positioning of the liquid crystal encapsulation opening is facilitated in the step of applying the sealing material can thereby be provided.

Abstract: A contact sensor capable of inputting a character by tracing a character with user's finger is arranged in a region of a ten-key unit of a mobile telephone. When registering a password to release a key lock, a user traces a shape of a line, a character, a number, or other symbol on the contact sensor with his/her finger so that the shape is inputted and stored in a memory, thereby completing registration of a password. When releasing the key lock, the user traces the registered shape on the contact sensor with his/her finger so that the key lock is released. The input is easy. Even if the password input operation is observed by a third person, the password will not be easily known to the third person.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device characterized in that an illumination unit includes a substantially wedge-shaped light-guiding plate 5 being tilted such that plate thickness becomes thinner from one side edge toward the other side edge, a light source 41 disposed along the thicker plate surface of the light-guiding plate, lead wires 43, 44 of the light source, and a housing 7 that houses these parts, in which the light-guiding plate is installed such that a gap L2 between the backside 52 of the light-guiding plate and the bottom wall of the housing becomes larger as the plate thickness becomes thinner, and a portion of the lead wires resides in the gap L2 and the wires are arranged along the other side edge 54 of the light-guiding plate.

Abstract: A two-beam semiconductor laser device 10 includes: a two-beam semiconductor element LDC having a first and a second semiconductor laser elements LD1 and LD2 that can be driven independently and that are formed integrally on a substrate; and a submount 63 having, mounted on a front part thereof, the two-beam semiconductor laser element LDC with the light-emitting face thereof directed forward and having a first and a second electrode pads 64 and 65 connected to electrodes 61 and 62 of the first and second semiconductor laser element LD1 and LD2 by being kept in contact therewith. The first and second electrode pads 64 and 65 are formed to extend farther behind the two-beam semiconductor laser element LDC, and wires 14 and 16 are wire-bonded behind the two-beam semiconductor laser element LDC.

Abstract: A two-beam semiconductor laser device 10 includes: a two-beam semiconductor element LDC having a first and a second semiconductor laser elements LD1 and LD2 that can be driven independently and that are formed integrally on a substrate; and a submount 63 having, mounted on a front part thereof, the two-beam semiconductor laser element LDC with the light-emitting face thereof directed forward and having a first and a second electrode pads 64 and 65 connected to electrodes 61 and 62 of the first and second semiconductor laser element LD1 and LD2 by being kept in contact therewith. The first and second electrode pads 64 and 65 are formed to extend farther behind the two-beam semiconductor laser element LDC, and wires 14 and 16 are wire-bonded behind the two-beam semiconductor laser element LDC.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for producing a gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor laser element, characterized in that a plane inclined at not less than 0.16 degree and not more than 5.0 degrees in terms of absolute value in the direction of <1-100> in (0001) Ga plane, or a plane in which the root mean square of (A2+B2) is not less than 0.17 and not more than 7.0 wherein A represents the off angle of (0001) Ga plane to <1-100> direction and B represents the off angle of (0001) Ga plane to <11-20> direction, is used as a crystal growth plane of a gallium nitride substrate, and an active layer is grown at a growth rate of not less than 0.5 ú/sec and not more than 5.0 ú/sec.

Abstract: A light emitting element includes: a box-shaped case formed by an insulation material and having a space inside; a lead frame formed by a conductive material and fixed to the case; and a light emitting chip fixed to the lead frame. On the lead frame, a rise portion is formed in a side wall of the case or along the inner surface of the side wall. The lead frame has a first lead frame fixing the light emitting chip and a second lead frame connected to the light emitting chip by the wire bonding. At least on the first lead frame, a rise portion is formed.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image display unit comprising a liquid crystal parallax barrier provided on the surface of an image display unit such as a transmitting liquid crystal display unit across a transparent plate, wherein a shielding member such as a black mask for shielding the outgoing light of a light incident from the side surface of the transparent plate is provided in the vicinity of the boundary of the effective display area of the parallax barrier. The shielding member may be provided inside or outside the parallax barrier. Such a construction can prevent blur forming in the vicinity of the boundary of the effective display area or a deterioration in display quality such as insufficient black displaying at a part that should be black-displayed, thereby providing a three-dimensional image display unit giving a good display quality in the vicinity of the boundary of the effective display area even if it is enlarged in size.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a III-V nitride compound semiconductor light emitting element, light emitting element regions (21) are formed in a low dislocation region on the III-V nitride compound semiconductor substrate wherein high density dislocation sections (22) and low dislocation regions are alternately arranged repeatedly, so that stripe-shaped light emitting regions are in parallel to the direction wherein the high density dislocation sections (22) extend, and then the substrate is broken, after making two scribe lines (23) to have the high density dislocation section (22) in between, on a plane (25) on the opposite side to a plane (24) whereupon the element regions (21) are formed. Thus, chips are separated and the high density dislocation sections (22) can be removed. The pitch of the two scribe lines is preferably 100 ?m or more.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus includes notification means for notifying an advance direction at a branching point in a route guiding, storage means for storing a plurality of moving methods and notification methods corresponding to the respective moving methods, input means for selecting one of the plurality of moving methods stored in the storage means, and control means for causing the notification means to perform notification by the notification method corresponding to the moving method selected by the input means. Thus, it is possible to easily set a route guiding such as a distance to the branching point where guiding is started for each of the moving methods and a sound volume.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser device of the present invention is provided with a base portion (2) having a horizontal top surface (S), a heat sink portion (3) that has a vertical element mount surface (7) and is located above the top surface (S) of the base portion (2), and a semiconductor laser element (4) that is fixed to the element mount surface (7). There is formed a depression (9) in the base portion (2) located immediately below the semiconductor laser element (4) so as to receive part of the semiconductor laser element (4) disposed in the depression (9). The element mount surface (7) is located inward of the inner side surface of the depression (9).

Abstract: A display device includes a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in a matrix. A scan signal is made to flow into a gate signal line and a data signal is made to flow into a source signal line so that the data signal is applied to a source electrode and the scan signal is supplied to a gate electrode of a control TFT arranged at a portion where the both signal lines intersect when viewed from above. Thus, when the control TFT is turned ON, a drive TFT having a gate electrode connected to the drain electrode is turned ON, so that current is supplied from a power supply line via the source electrode and the drain electrode of the drive TFT to an organic EL element and the organic EL element emits light. A holding capacity is present between the control TFT and the drive TFT. Even when the scan signal becomes LOW level and the control TFT turns OFF, the gate potential of the drive TFT is held for a predetermined period of time by the holding capacity and the organic EL element continues to emit light.

Abstract: A hinge device having a first installation frame (10) installed on a first housing (2); a second installation frame (20) installed on a second housing (3); a third installation frame (30) for rotatably supporting a base end section of each of the frames, the base end sections being supported such that a head section side of each frame is rotatable in a direction to approach to and separate from each other, the base end sections being supported through a first main shaft (40) and a second main shaft (50) that are arranged parallel to each other and to which rotation of the frames is transmitted; a rotation force transmission mechanism (80) disposed between the main shafts (40, 50) and including gears (81, 82) having a function of transmitting reverse rotation force from one to the other and vice versa; and a rotation angle restriction means (60). The hinge device enables stable closing operation in which displacement between the housings does not occur.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display comprising a liquid crystal panel having a first glass substrate and a second glass substrate provided with a terminal part protruding beyond the first glass substrate; a backlight provided with a light source, a light guide plate and an optical sheet; a case for housing the liquid crystal panel and the backlight; and a double-sided tape for bonding the second glass substrate side of the liquid crystal panel and the case. The double-sided tape is provided at a frame part in the outer circumference of the effective display section of the liquid crystal panel which is closer to the effective display section than the terminal part and where the first and second glass substrates overlap. The double-sided tape is narrower than the width of the frame part where the first and second glass substrates overlap. Consequently, there can be obtained a liquid crystal display having such a structure that the liquid crystal panel is insusceptible to damage when dropped.

Abstract: A folding electronic apparatus with a hinge device having a first installation frame (10) installed on a first housing (2); a second installation frame (20) installed on a second housing (3); a third installation frame (30) for rotatably supporting a base end section of each of the frames, the base end sections being supported such that a head section side of each frame is rotatable in a direction to approach to and separate from each other, the base end sections being supported through a first main shaft (40) and a second main shaft (50) that are arranged parallel to each other and to which rotation of the frames is transmitted; a rotation force transmission mechanism (80) disposed between the main shafts (40, 50) and including an even number of gears (81, 82) having a function of transmitting reversing rotational force from one to the other and vice versa; and a rotation angle restriction means (60).

Abstract: An electrochromic display is disclosed which comprises an array-side substrate (10) in which a pixel electrode (15) and an electrochromic layer (30) are formed, a color filter-side substrate (50) in which a counter electrode (53) and an electrochromic layer (54) are formed, and an electrolytic layer (80) injected between the array-side substrate (10) and the color filter-side substrate (50). By forming a partition wall (23) on the periphery of the pixel electrode (15) and the electrochromic layer (30), there can be prevented short-circuits between pixel electrodes (15) and short-circuits between electrochromic layers (30) between adjacent pixels, thereby realizing an electrochromic display with higher precision.